3 Ways You Can Use Yoga to Give Back

That’s one of my favorite themes in Baptiste Yoga. How can you use your talents and power to benefit others? How can you become your best self and then share it with those around you?

In fact, part of our yoga teacher training is to come up with an idea to bring yoga to others. I’m not totally decided on what I want to do yet, but I am inspired by my recent yoga “classes” with my dad. It’s been really helpful for his bad back and arthritis, and I love seeing how much better he feels afterward.

I think it’s so important to give back, and it’s so much more meaningful when you can do it though something really special to you. I’ve seen the ways yoga has transformed my life, as well as heard stories from countless others. If you’re looking into getting more involved with service, maybe you can use your passion for health and fitness. If you’re a you lover like me, here are 3 ways you can use yoga to give back!

1: Suggest a weekly or monthly donation-only class at your studio. People can pay as much as they want (suggest $5 perhaps) and the proceeds go to a charity of your choice. You could take suggestions from studio members, change monthly, or just choose a cause that’s special to you. Added benefit: cheaper yoga for people that aren’t wiling to pay the higher studio prices!

2: Teach yoga to an underserved population that could really benefit from it – maybe at the community center of a low income area, at a homeless shelter, at the local VA, or at a women’s shelter. We have a program for this at SLU Med that I’m hoping to teach with this school year! But if you don’t know of a program already, just reach out and ask a place you think would be great a fit (seriously, sending an email is harmless).

3: Start teaching a free yoga class at a nearby park! I love that Sat Inder did this at Tower Grove Part in St. Louis. He now gets over 100 people each weekend. And sure, the people that come may not be “needy” in the standard sense of the word, but bringing yoga to anyone can be such a gift. Yoga can help people that are grieving, depressed, physically unhealthy and so much more. The mind-body connection, relaxation and mental calm can do wonders for stress, and stress can do nasty things to a person. You never know the impact that introducing yoga may have on a person’s life.

Jeweler’s Mutual Band Together Campaign will be donating $2 million to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, and Feeding America / Food Banks Canada. YOU can help decide how to disperse the $2 million by voting for your favorite cause between July 11 and July 31 of this year. First place gets $1 million, second gets $700,000 and third $300,000. Not too shabby!!

PLUS every time you vote you get entered to win jewelry prizes from STACKED New York. One winner gets 3 stacking bands, valued at $450. So vote every day if you want!!

How do you give back? Anything unique? Any ideas you’d love to bring to reality?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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